Quick Characteristics Winery: Las Perdices Location: Argentina Vintage: 2010 ABV: 14.0% Serving Temp: 60-64°F Aged: 8 months in oak barrels Pairs With: Red Meat, fish, pasta, spicy chicken or pork I love a simple wine, more so when the said simple wine is just so good! There are days even a wine professional does not want to think about what they are drinking. Please excuse the next … [Read more...]
Well, today is another “Hallmark Holiday”. You know which one I'm talking about — Valentine’s Day. Even if it is just that, what is the problem? It seems to me, that most of the year we do not make enough time set aside for love and even if you might, I see nothing wrong with throwing another, perhaps more official day of it in the mix. For the singletons out there, don’t just sulk around and complain bitterly about the day. If you find yourself alone, grab your closest … [Read more...]
The Texas Hill Country was recently named one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations 2014. This may have surprised a lot of people, but not us. We’ve known for some time that Texas offers visitors a unique wine experience that goes beyond award-winning wines to incomparable hospitality, rolling Hill Country landscapes, and toe-tapping live music. Located here in Austin, TX, we are just a short drive away from the beautiful wine country of Central Texas. A common … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: Alpha Domus Vineyard Location: New Zealand Vintage: 2010 ABV: 14.0% pH: 3.80 Sugar Level: ‹ 1.0 g/L Harvest Dates: May 7–23, 2010 Bottling Date: March 14, 2012 Pairs With: Beef Stew, Steak, Venison As wine consumers in North America we are very lucky, the depth of choice on our wine retailer’s shelves is something that many … [Read more...]
Cabernet Sauvignon Is a Robust, Full Flavored Wine Fit for a King Cabernet Sauvignon has the honor of being the world's most widely recognized wine. Thanks to the robust nature of the vine, virtually every country that produces wine is capable of making Cabernet Sauvignon, from places in North America to regions in Australia. Cabernet Sauvignon is well known for its firm tannins and full and rich taste, including such notes as blackcurrant, as well as woodsy flavors, such as cedar, … [Read more...]
It may seem obvious to get the wine lover in your life vino for valentine's day, but why not make the gift even more thoughtful by taking the extra step to get them a wine accessory, as well? The bottle of wine may enhance the experience of that one evening, but the gift accompaniment is something that will enhance their wine drinking experience for years to come. Here is our list of the top 5 Valentine’s Day wines and the best gifts to pair them with: … [Read more...]
Some wineries are noted and recognized in Napa Valley for their red wines. However, I would like to think that a many a winery can be recognized further depending on how they craft their whites. White wines can truly demonstrate and showcase the artisan-ship and creativity of a winery. White wine grapes are delicate and can be complex, some varietals are harvested early, some late. A great white wine is a combined effort of the viticulture and winemaking team to recognize when the fruit … [Read more...]
Merlot comes second only to Cabernet Sauvignon in international popularity. From New Zealand to France to the United States, Merlot grapes are planted all over the world. Although wines made exclusively from Merlot grapes have achieved notary on their own, the grapes are also one of the five varieties used in blending famous Bordeaux wines. From its rich history to some lesser known fun facts, we’ve compiled all you need to know about Merlot. The Migration of Merlot The word Merlot is … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: Jean-Luc Colombo Location: France Vintage: 2012 ABV: 12.0% pH: 3.46 Sugar Level: 1.4 g/L Pairs With: Fish, Poultry, Egg-Noodle Soup Most of us sitting around in the northern hemisphere are freezing our tukis’ off. Are you experiencing a little bit of cabin fever? Have you dared to venture outside just for a bit of fresh air, even if with that first breath your … [Read more...]
Ah, oxygen. Us humans, and every other living thing on this planet, need it to live and breathe and plants release this precious gas during the process of photosynthesis. As much as oxygen is important to life, it is equally as destructive. It rusts our valued cars, in our bodies, oxygen in the form of free radicals can cause excessive inflammation, break cells down and cause oxidative stress transforming DNA figurations, which ultimately can lead to many sicknesses. So what does oxygen … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: Peller Estates Winery Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario Vintage: 2006 ABV: 11.0% Acid Level: 8.5 g/L Sugar Level: 208 g/L Pairs With: Dark Chocolate, Candied Almonds, Desserts With Red Fruit, Blue Cheese What do you crave when you want to indulge? Rich, dark chocolate? Your favorite flavor of ice cream? What do you want when in search for a bit of a night … [Read more...]
Most people associate Championship football parties with beer, chips and cheese dip. Although the staples are popular for a reason, sometimes it’s nice to mix things up a bit. The recent Velveeta shortage in the Northeast has party-throwers scrambling for alternate dip ideas, so why not think of some different beverage options while you’re at it. According to a recent poll, more and more Americans are beginning to prefer wine over beer as their drink of choice. Here’s 6 easy ways to make … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery Location: Napa Valley, CA Vintage: 2011 ABV: 13.5% pH: 3.72 T. Acidity: 6.0 g/L Residual Sugar: <0.2% Pairs With: Grilled Steak or Tuna, Herb-roasted meats, Gouda The holidays are past us. Some of us might be thinking “finally” while others might have other more bitter sweet thoughts of yet another … [Read more...]
A sweet, spicy glass of mulled wine on a blustery winter day instantly warms the room and tantalizes the senses. The drink has a history as rich as its tastes. For centuries, the upper crust of society drank mulled wine to demonstrate their ability to add desirable and expensive spices and sugar to wine rather than reserve them strictly for the preparation of meals. Throughout the years, mulled wine has become synonymous with the arrival of cold weather. The fragrant aroma and syrupy … [Read more...]
Wine drinkers love to try new bottles, for interests sake, to impress friends or just because we can. The good news is that the world has plenty of surprises tucked up its sleeve. Often right under our nose there are great bottles waiting to be discovered from places that even the wine critics fail to spot. Let’s paint a picture, a romantic Italian scene. Warm blue skies, rolling green hills covered in olive groves and neat rows of vines. Idyllic medieval towns filled with the noise of … [Read more...]
Still searching for the perfect bottle of bubbly to serve at your huge New Year’s Eve bash? Or are you simply looking for something special to split between you and your New Year’s Eve kiss? Champagne shopping can be overwhelming, which is why we’ve broken down the basics for you to make that wine aisle a little easier to navigate this New Year's Eve. Champagne Technically speaking, a bottle of sparkling wine is only truly considered Champagne if it is harvested and made within the Champagne … [Read more...]
Christmas may be over for this year, but before 2013 is finished there are plenty more opportunities to celebrate, and nothing says party quite like a bottle of bubbly! Last week we reviewed Animal Espumante Chardonnay-Pinot Noir, a bottle of bubbly that is perfect for Christmas dinner and your New Years celebration. Today, we wanted to finish off 2013 right, with a review of a true bottle of champagne. Historically, the province of Champagne has been seen as the go to destination for … [Read more...]
The holidays are definitely here. At this point, I would hope you have all of your gifts wrapped and under the tree. As we approach Christmas Day and soon New Year’s Eve, then New Year’s Day, you have had a glass or few of many wines at many dinner and cocktail parties. Hopefully you are not over it just yet, as we have only gotten into the swing of things. As we are approaching the New Year, I only thought it fitting to do a review of a bubbly. Since you've already chosen your … [Read more...]
Still Christmas shopping? Don’t stress. We have 20 thoughtful and unique wine gifts that, if you order soon, you can still get under the tree, stuffed in a stocking, or on your coworker’s desk by Christmas day. 1. Le Creuset Original Lever & Foilcutter Set Known for its classic design and unsurpassed dependability, you can’t go wrong with Le Creuset's Original Lever & Foilcutter Set. The teflon-coated screw makes quick work of both natural and synthetic corks. The set arrives in an … [Read more...]
Of all the many wine varietals, I would like to safely say that Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most underappreciated. Yes, there are many who love Sauvignon Blanc and buy it on a regular basis as a sipping wine to perhaps relax on a hot day and wind down. Of course if you are sipping on a very affordable bottle, one which is chilled even more so than it should be, then your palate just might be numb enough to the cold so that you cannot really experience what you are drinking. I promise if you … [Read more...]
Quick Characteristics Winery: De Toren Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa Vintage: 2010 ABV: 15% pH: 3.58 Acidity: 5.61 g/l Sugar: 3.09 g/l Pairs With: Grilled Steak There are many wonderful wine growing areas across the world; every wine drinker has their favorite. Historic European regions like Bordeaux or Champagne, Chianti or the Mosel Valley are places of real … [Read more...]
